CRANACH, Lucas the Elder
(b. 1472, Kronach, d. 1553, Weimar)

Portrait of a Man

1515
Parchment on wood, 42 x 28 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

The sitter of this portrait is perhaps a mayor of Weissenfels. The portrait was executed with the contribution of assistants.

From the twelfth to the early fifteenth century there are many instances in European painting of wooden panels being completely covered with parchment. It was done to disguise faults in the panel and reinforce the joins.